Bunting device



J. 'J. CLARK BUNTING DEVICE May 4, 1948.

Filed Oct. 21, 1946 INVENTOR cIAmBs J. CLARK Patented May 4, 1948 UNITED STATES?ATENT OFFICE BUNTING DEVICE James J. Clark. Bronx, N. Y. Application October 21, 1946, Serial No. 704,703

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a baseball game device.

This application relates to similar subject matter to that in my U. S. Letters Patent'No. 2,362,188, issued on November '7, 1944.

The invention proposes to characterize the bunting device by the fact that it includes a bat rotatively mounted on a vertical post to swing horizontally and resiliently urged in one direction with a coil spring mounted coaxially on the post. A. catch is associated with the bat for holding the coil spring in a wound condition with the bat set for batting. It is proposed to provide one or more levers associated with and for operating mechanism to free the bat by operating the catch. An important feature of this invention resides in the provision of certain mechanism for holding an elastic stretched in the path of motion of the bat for cushioning or dampening the swing of the bat for bunting when this is desired.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of a baseball bunting device embodying the objects and advantages briefly described, which is exceptionally simple and which may be manufactured and sold at a low cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly. set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a baseball game provided with a baseball bunting device constructed in accordance with this invention. 7 i

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one of the handle operators.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the post H and has one end attached to the bat l2 and the other end attached to the post II. This coil spring I4 is for the purpose of swinging the bat l2. It is merely necessary to turn the bat l2 around and around until the spring 14 is sufficiently wound. When the bat is released, the

5 Claims. (01. 27389) spring M will swing it horizontally. The bat is located in the corner of the supporting base l0.

,The major part of the mechanism for releasing the bat is under the top surface of the base so as not to interfere with the batting of the ball.

A catch I5 is mounted on the base In and is located in the path of the bat 12 for holding the bat stationary, and set for batting with the coil spring [4 fully wound up. This catch I5 is in the nature of a leaf spring which has an end '16 attached upon the base In and which extends upwards and laterally and then continues into a downwardly directed end portion IT. The bat l2 has a flat side l8 adapted to engage against the downwardly bent end I? of the catch 15.

The catch I5 is associated with means by which it may be operated to release the bat l2. This means'includes a rod 20 turnably mounted upon the base I ll with several brackets or bearings 2|. The rod 20 is provided with a bent inwardly projecting portion 22 terminating beneath the downwardly bent end I! of the catch IS.

The projecting portion 22 is connected with the inwardly bent portion I! with a rod or cable 23. Each end of the rod 23 is provided with a handle 24 by which the rod 20 may be turned. Springs 25 are interposedbetween the bottom faces of the handles24 and a bracket26 on the base It] and act to normally urge the handles 24 into slightly raised positions. When one or the other of the handles 24 are pressed downwards the rod 20 will turn and the projection '22 willmove downwards, indirectly flexing the catch [5 for moving the catch beneath the bat l2 which is then freed. A stop 21 mounted on the base I!) limits the swing of the bat I2.

A hollow rod 23 is turnably mounted on the base I!) by several brackets or bearings 29. The hollow rod 28 is provided with an upwardly directed back end 30. A bell crank having arms 3| and 32 is pivotally mounted intermediate of its arms upon said back end 30 of said hollow rod 28 by a 'plntle' 33.

A rod 34 is movably mounted through the hollow'rod 28 and is connected with the bell crank 3| and 32 for controlling the pivotalposition thereof. The back end of the rod 34 is provided with an upwardly directed and flattened end 33 which has a slot 31 engaged by a pin 38 mounted and rearwardly and turned. The rod 34 has a handle 43 by which it may be moved and turned.

The hollow rod 28 is also provided with a lateral the bell crank. The tension of the elastic 43 normally holds the bell crank arm 3| and back end 35 directed upwardly because the elastic 43 is past the dead center of pivoting of the rod 28, causing the projection 4! to engage the face" of the base IEI'.

The operation of the baseball bunting device may be understood from the following:

The bunting device is ready to be used when it is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. When a ball is pitched towards the bat l2, the player may depress one of the handles 24 to operate the catch 15 to free the bat l2 at the proper instant so that the bat swings and strikes the ball. The inner end of the bat l2 will strike: the elastic 43- which is in its path. The

elastic 4-3 will serve to dampen the swing of. the

bat..' The tension of the elastic d3" may be varied for controlling the type of bunt. The rods l may be moved inwards ori outwards. relative tothe rod 2!! so as to indirectly pivot the bell crank 31 and 32: and. stretch; or relax the elastic d3. Friction will: retain the rod 34 in its adjusted-position within" the hollow rod 28.

' When it is desired not to use the bunting, device? the rods 28 and 3 3 may be turned so that theelastic 43- and. the: back end. 38'' and back end 36 0f the. rods 28 and. 34, respectively, lay against the top face of the base: [0,. as schematically indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig 3 of the: drawing. The stop 21' prevents the bat l2 from turnin around; too muchso that the spring I 4 would unwind. The stop 21: limits the bat 12 to turn" through approximately 180.

While]: have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do" not limit myself tothe precise: constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to. all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined im the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 'what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United StatesaLetters Patent is:

1'..A baseball: bunting device, comprising a base, a vertical post mounted on said base, a bat rotatively mounted on saidverti'cal post to swing horizontally; a coil spring mounted on said post andhaving one end attached to said bat: for

swinging said bat; a catch mounted. on said. base and located in the path of said bat for. holding said coil spring: woundup, means for moving said catch free of said hat, a hollowrod turnably' mounted on said base andv having an: upwardly directed back end, a bell crankpivotally mounted on the back end of said hollow rod; an elastic stretched between said base and one end of said bell crank and normally disposed in the: path of saidlbatxfor' dampening swinging of said bat, and

a rod: mommy ziiount'edri through: said: hollow rod;

and connected-with said bell crank for controlling the: amount to which said elastic is' stretched;

2. A2 baseballbunting: device, comprising a base, avertical post mounted on said base, a batzrotatively mounted on said vertical: post toswing.

horizontally, a coilspring mounted onv said post andhavi'ngone end attached. tosaid bat for swingingsaid' bat, a catch mounted on: said base and located in thepath of said bat for holding saidccil spring wound up, means for moving: said catch free of said hat, a hollow rod turnably mounted on said base and having an upwardly directed back end, a bell crank pivotally mounted on the back end of said hollow rod, an elastic stretched between said base and one end of said bell crank and normally disposed in the path of said bat for dampening swinging of said bat, and a rod mouably mounted through said hollow rod and connected with said bell crank for controlling the amount to which said elastic is stretched, said hollow rod bein provided with a projection for limiting turning in one direction to a position in which said elastic is slightly past the dead center of said hollow rod.

3. A baseball bunting device, comprising :a base, a vertical post mounted on said base, a, bat rotatively mounted on said vertical post to swing horizontally, a coil spring mounted on said post and having one end attached to said bat for swinging said bat, a catch mounted on said base and located in the path of said bat for holding said coil spring wound up, means for moving said catch free of said bat, a hollow rod turna'bly mounted on said base and having an upwardly directed back end, a bell crank pivotallyv mounted on theback end of said hollow rod, an elastic stretched between said base and one end of said bell crank and normally disposed in the path of saidbat for dampening. swinging of said bat, and

a rod movably mounted through said hollow rod and connected with said bell crank for controlling the amount towhichsaid. elastic is stretched, said hollow rod. and saidrod" being provided with handles 4.. Abaseball bunting device, comprising a base,

a: vertical post mounted on said base, a bat lO- tatively mounted on said vertical post to swing horizontally, a coil spring mounted on said post and having one end attached to said bat for swinging said bat; a catch mounted on said base and: locatedin' the path of said bat for holding said coil spring wound up, means for moving said catch! free of said bat, a hollow rod turnably mounted on said: base and having an upwardly directed back'end, a bell crank pivotally mounted on the" back end" of said hollow rod, an elastic stretched between said base and one end of said" bell crank and normally disposed in the path of saidbat for dampening swinging of said bat, and

a rod movably mounted through said hollow rod and connected with said bell crank for controllin'g' the amount to which said elastic is stretched, said rod being slidab'le' through said hollow rod.

5. A baseball bunting device, comprising a base, a vertical post mounted on said base, a bat rotatively mounted on said vertical post to swing horizontally, a coil spring mounted'on said post and having one end attached to said bat for swinging said hat, a catch mounted on said base and located in the path of said bat for'hol'ding said coil spring wound up, means for moving said catch free of' said hat, a hollow rod turnably mounted on said base and'havlng an upwardly directed back: end, a bell crank pivotally mounted on the back end of said hollow rod, an elastic stretchedbetween said base and one end of said bell crank and normally disposed in the path of'said bat for dampening swinging of said bat, anda rodmovably mounted through said hollow rod and connected with said bell crank for controlling the amount to which said elastic is" stretched, said rod having a back end provided with a slot, and a pin mounted on one arm of said bell: crank and slidably engaging said slot;

' JAMES J. CLARK, 

